NSB(i)
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted elders who had been with Solomon his father when he was living. He said: »In your opinion, what answer am I to give to these people?«
7 They said to him: »If you will be a servant to this people today, caring for them and giving them a favorable answer, then they will be your servants for ever.«
8 But he paid no attention to the opinion of the elders. He went to the young men who were his advisors:
9 »What is your opinion?« He asked: »What answer are we to give to this people? They want me to lighten the burdens placed on them by my father.«
10 His young advisors said: »This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: ‘Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less?’ Say to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's body.’
11 »‘If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes.’«
12 So all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day just as the king ordered.
13 The king gave them a harsh answer. He paid no attention to the suggestion of the elders.
14 He gave them the answer suggested by the young advisors. He said: »My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.«
15 The king did not listen to the people. This came about by Jehovah’s purpose, so that what he had said by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, might be fulfilled.